The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-07-06
PATRIOTISM.

of the Fourth of July tomorrow will be
more general and hearty than for many
years past. This is a cheerful sign, and in
dicates that true patriotism is growing
among the people, both young and old,
native and foreign.
OF late years the old fashioned manner
of celebrating has fallen into disfavor, or,
rather, has not been very generally fol-
lowed. The booming of cannon, the grand
parade, the strains of martial music, called
all the people Of the city, town and country
together, and the Fourth of July orator
found an audience beyond the limits of
his voice. This, of course, made the day
one of noise and excitement, and, too
frequently, one OF dissipation. But not
wlthstanding there may have been some
Objectionable features connected with this
style of celebration, ii would be well to en-
courage a return to the old fashioned way.
The day should be celebrated by all the
people as citizens. as the Fourth of July
orator would say, of Ga great and glorious
country" The rich and the poor
the young and the old, the {: ma
tive and the foreign born, the white
and the black, should meet on COM
mon ground and celebrate the day
from which is dated a new era in the
worlds history. The Fourth of July is the
peoples day. and an exclusive celebration
by any one class, society or clique falls
very short Of proper appreciation of the
day. A general celebration by all the peo-
,ola of fha oifu f0up or na;obhorho0d n,
one assemblage, will arouse public spirit
of patriotism, and will stimulate the young
to an increased love for the study of the
history and institutions of our country and
assist them to a realization of the duties of
citizenship.
The Fourth of July orators OF the past
100 years have dwelt very largely on the
noble deeds of the revolutionary soldiers.
This was eminently proper, but the states
men who formed the Constitution have
never received a very large amount of
laudatien on this anniversary. They were
true patriots, and should not be forgotten
by the Fourth of July orator. One hun
dred years ago to-day ii was very question
able il the rich fruits OF the revolutionary
war would be gathered. The constitutional
convention was in session at Philadelphia,
and the differences of opinion among the
members were so radical that the prospect of
an agreement were very slim indeed. Bat
the members of that convention were pa
triots, and the 9Th OF July, 1877, compro-
missed their differences and substantially
agreed upon the Constitution as it was
finally adopted. Had not these men been
actuated by the very highest patriotic i'm
pulses, national government would not
have been formed, and the Declaration of
Independence would not have become such
an important event had each State re-
NAMED in independent government. 1t is
the unity, growth and prosperity of the
people under the Constitution that adds to
the importance of the declaration which
was the foundation of the Government
that was afterward established, and with
out which the declaration would have lost
much of its importance. At the close of
this 100 years since the Constitution was
formed, it will be well for the Fourth of
July orator to dwell upon the patriotism of
the men who made the Constitution.
But who is a patriot? Webster says it is
"a person who loves bis country, and zeal
ously supports and defends it and its in
terests."
A man, then, can not be patriot who
defes the laws of the land and ha-
bitually violates them. A man can
not be patriot whose selfish
action leads in opposition to
best intents and is in conflict with the pub
lie good, The patriotic citizen must obey
the laws and uphold the institutions of
the Government. And that man is the
most patriotic who deyotes all his energies
to the building up and development OF
! great, prosperous and happy Government
which shall be blessing to all the people.
The humblest citizen can do his part in the
everyday walks of life. We need revival
| of true patriotism, and the commencement
of the second one hundred years of our
existence as a Government is an auspi-
cious time to study what true patriotism is
and inculcate the law for 1t among all citi-
zens of the great republic. The Fourth-of-
July orator will please take hint and
vary the monotony of his speech by point
ing out the duty of the true patriot in
obeying the laws and being jealous in the
promotion of every good work that will
make the people happy and advance the
general welfare of all.
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